Car-coupling.



PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.-

- G. H. SGHAFPER.

GAR COUPLING. APPLICATION PILE D JAN. 2251904.

:70 MODEL.

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q m/lmeooeo UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. SCHAFFER. OF STILES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE FOURTH TOJAMES LEIBY, OF STILES, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,770, dated August16, 1904.

Application filed January 22, 1904. Serial No. 190,113. (No model.)

To all 707mm it new concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. SCHAFFER, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Stiles, in the county ofLehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Oar-Couplings, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to car-couplings, and more especially to the typeof construction known as vertical couplers, one of the objects'of theinvention being to render more positive and efficient the operation ofthe latch or locking pin familiarly employed in this class of couplings.5 A further object of the invention is to insure the easy drawing of thelatch-pin irrespective of the degree of draft tension exerted on the jawwhile in a coupled condition.

Other leading considerations connected with the novel construction arethe promotio n'of its automatic coupling capacity and its adaptabilityfor ready and positive coupling with other types of vertical couplers,as well as with a draw-head of twin character.

Further important considerations are involved in the presentimprovements, as will hereinafter appear.

WVith all of the above purposes in view the invention comprehends thenovel construction and arrangements of parts clearly set forth in thesubsequent detailed description and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, in which drawings Figure 1is a perspective view of a drawhead embodying my invention, saiddraw-head being represented as being set to adapt it for automaticcoupling with a suitable construction of companion draw-head. Fig. 2 isa side view of the draw-head represented in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a planView disclosing a pair of the novel draw-headsthe same being shown intheir relative position immediately prior to their becomingautomatically coupled. Fig. 4 is a part-sectional and part-plan viewillustrating a pair of the novel draw-heads in their coupled and lockedrelation. Fig. 5 is a detail front edge view of the coupling-jaw as itappears in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. Fig.

6 is a side and Fig. 7 is an edge view of the 5 latch-pin.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate correspondingparts in the several figures of the drawings wherein they occur. 5 5

WVhile I have generally illustrated and described my improvedcar-coupler as coactive with another of twin construction, it willbecome manifest as this description progresses that one of my saidcouplers is capable of a wide range of service with numerous otherconstructions of couplers.

The improved coupler, or, as it is sometimes designated herein, the drawhead, comprises -the customary draw-bar A, integral with which is thehead A, which latter, as is frequent in constructions of thevertical-coupler type, has flat top and bottom surfaces, but possesses avertical configuration of peculiar character, involving a main or bodyportion, 7 the sides a a of which divergently curve from the contiguousend of the bar A and merge at their front in inwardly-extending walls aa, terminating in a longitudinally-disposed horizontal bearing A locatedto one side of the axis of the draw-head.

The body of the head contains a horizontal recess A, which opens throughthe wall (0 and is of the contour generally indicated in Fig. 4. Thisrecess opens laterally through the forward portion of the side a andthrough the wall a a slot (0* dividing the bearinginto upper and lowersections and also intersecting the recess A. Pivotally mounted betweenthe bearing-sections, near the outer ends there- 5 of, is ahorizontal'ly-swinging jaw B, integral with which is a horizontalsegment B of the shape also more particularly indicated in Fig.

A, said segment being disposed substantially at a right angle to the jawand extending with- 9 in the recess A", where it presents an extendedcurved edge 7), the contracted shank 7/ of this segment occupying aposition permitting it to move within or from the slot af of thehearing. ()ne of the reduced portions of the segment B is notched topresent an inclined shoulder 5 It will be observed by reference to Figs.1,

2, and that the jaw B is of somewhat flat character, thereby presentingopposite faces involving extended vertical as well as horizontaldimensions.

The top of the head A contains a small longitudinally-extcndedrectangular opening,

in which is guided the flat shank c of the latchpin 0, which includes alower eccentricallylocated stem a, circular in cross-s ection. Theeccentric location of this stem results in the shank presenting ashouldered part which has on one side a beveled portion 0 which extendsvertically from the shouldered edge. When in position, the stem 0 playsvertically in a perforation therefor in the bottom of the head A, thepin being non-rotatively retained by the shank 0 and maintained in suchposition that when the pin is raised sufiiciently high the segment B canbe swung from the position indicated in Fig. 4 to that represented inFigs. 1 and 3, and thus occasion the curved edge portion 6 to movebeneath the shoulder of the latch-pin and maintain the latter in anelevated position. (See Fig. 2.)

The contact of the jaw B with the bearing A when said jaw is moved tothe position represented in Fig. 1 will operate to limit the movement ofthe segment beneath the pinshoulder, so that said segment when moving inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 will never assume suchundue position as to result in its passing clear of the elevated pin andthe latter permitted to drop. Therefore a coupler so conditioned will beunlatched ready for automatic coupling with another coupler of the sameor other suitable construction. Consequently upon the impact of theproper part of the coacting coupler with the projecting part of thesegment the latter -will be swung within the recess A until its notchedportion 7f arrives beneath the shouldered part of the pin-shank,whereupon the pin will be permitted to drop, such shouldered part becomeengaged within the notch, and the jaw B thus automatically moved to andlocked in the coupled position. A perforation in the upper part of thepin-shank provides for a suitable operating connection, enabling the pinto be manually drawn when required.

When both draw-heads of my improved construction approach each other inmutually-unlatched condition, the projecting part of the segment of eachwill serve to force back the segment of the other, as indicated in Fig.3, thereby throwing the jaws of both into engagement, in which positionthey are automatically locked, as may be gathered from Fig. 4.

In prior vertical-coupler constructions elnploying a latch-pin greatdifliculty has been experienced in drawing the pin by reason ofresistance exerted on the latter, due to draft tension on the jaw. In myconstruction this objection is overcome by reason of the mutuallyinclined or beveled faces of the pin and notched part of the segment,this arrangement obviously permitting an easy relative movement of theseparts irrespective of the draft tension.

Another notable advantage arising from my invention ensues by reason ofthe latching-pin having the lower stem 0 playing in the bottomperforation, the pin being always properly guided throughout the rangeof its vertical movements.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the preciseconstruction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but reservethe right to all modifications that may be fairly within the scope of myinvention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a car-coupling, the combination with a recessed coupler-headhaving a top opening alined with the draw-bar, and also with aforwardly-extending horizontal bearing at one side of the longitudinalcenter of the head, of a jaw provided with a segment having an extendedinner portion with a horizontallycurved edge, a part of said segmenthaving a notched extremity and adapted when the jaw is open to projectbeyond the head-recess, and another part of said segment adapted whenthe jaw is closed to project at the outer side of the jaw-bearing andhead, and a shouldered latch-pin playing in the top opening to ride onsaid curved inner part of the segment and descend for engaging thenotched extremity thereof when the segment is swung back and the jawbrought into an engaged position.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination with a recessed coupler head havinga horizontal bearing and an opening in the top, of a jaw provided with asegment adapted to swing within the head-recess and pivoted at thehearing, said segment having an engaging notch one surface of which isbeveled, and a shouldered latch-pin playing in the top opening having abeveled part for coacting with the notch-bevel, the shoulder of said pinadapted to ride on the segment and descend and bring its beveled part inbearing relation with the beveled surface of the segment-notch.

Signed at Coplay, in the county of Lchigh and State of Pennsylvania,this 13th day of January, A. D. 1904.

GEO. H. SGHAFFER.

l/Vitnesses:

JOSEPH STECKEL, ALEXANDER R. ROTH.

